The new Interstate Highway System Exemption excludes the majority of the Interstate from Section 106 requirements. Elements of the Interstate that meet certain National Register criteria must still be considered through the normal historic preservation review process. FHWA and other stakeholders will identify these elements in each state before the Interstate's 50th anniversary in June 2006. To view the Exemption published in the Federal Register, click on the following link: Exemption Regarding Historic Preservation Review Process for Effects to the Interstate Highway System. Visit the May 2005 issue of Successes in Stewardship for more information.

SAFETEA-LU Section 6002(i)

Section 6002(j) of SAFETEA-LU allows for FHWA to approve funding to federal and state agencies and Indian Tribes to support activities that contribute to expediting and improving transportation project planning and delivery. On September 18, 2002, the White House issued Executive Order 13274, Environmental Stewardship and Transportation Infrastructure Project Reviews, to further the goals of environmental streamlining.

SAFETEA-LU Section 6009

Section 6009 of SAFETEA-LU amends Section 4(f) legislation to simplify the processing and approval of projects that have only de minimis impacts to lands protected by Section 4(f). The de minimis impact criteria differ for historic sites than for parks, recreation areas, and wildlife and waterfowl refuges. Please refer to the guidance issued for determining de minimis impacts to Section 4(f) resources.

Statewide Section 106 Programmatic Agreements (PAs)

Statewide Section 106 programmatic agreements (PAs) and related agreement documents are one way that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) can improve decisionmaking and advance environmental streamlining. PAs from the States of Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, California, and Washington, which administratively delegate some responsibility for Section 106 to the State DOTs, are listed below as examples for states seeking to implement similar kinds of agreement documents. To view more PAs related to Section 106 and other historic preservation areas, visit the State Streamlining Practices Database.

Example State PAs

Both an Overview and a Detailed Summary of these seven featured State's PAs are available. In addition, links to the actual PAs are provided below.

The Programmatic Agreements - Overview and Summary

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